EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

16-May-2012 - It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

FoodDrinkEurope tackles trade barriers in US

16-May-2012 - EU trade group FoodDrinkEurope teamed up with the European Commission (EC) on a delegation to the US at the end of last week aimed at building stronger export links.

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

15-May-2012 - Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

UK to begin consultation on food labelling

14-May-2012 - The UK government today launches fresh talks which could lead to a new universal way to label the nutritional content of food.

Transatlantic beef trade war comes to end

30-Apr-2012 - A deal between the Council of Europe, the USA and Canada will see the long dispute over the presence of hormones in imported beef come to an end.

EU set to harmonise use of flavouring substances

26-Apr-2012 - The European Union is set to harmonise the use of flavouring substances across the bloc after member states endorsed the Commission’s proposal to establish a list of permitted flavouring substances.

Health targets achieve more without regulation, says UK minister

23-Apr-2012 - Voluntary steps to reduce trans fats, salt and calories in food and drink are achieving much more than 'intrusive regulation' would, according to the UK health secretary.

EFSA finds genetically modified maize safe for health and environment

12-Apr-2012 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found that Monsanto’s MON810 genetically modified maize poses no risk to human health or the environment, based on data from the 2010 growing season.

FSA launches guidelines on edible glitters over misleading marketing fears

12-Apr-2012 - The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has developed guidelines on glitters and dusts over fears that inedible decorations are being marketed for use in foods such as cakes.

Fat tax harmonisation a speck on the horizon

05-Apr-2012 - The European Commission has said it has no intention of pursuing harmonisation of fat taxes but there are hints that it could be welcome further down the line.

June window for progress in GM debate “closing”

04-Apr-2012 - A window of opportunity for a compromise deal over genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe is fading as it is not expected on the agenda of June’s environment council meeting.

PepsiCo on nutrient profiling: “We are operating in a legal vacuum”

03-Apr-2012 - Three years late and seeking further extensions, nutrient profiles remain the missing link in the European Union’s new health claim regime. Frustrated stakeholders say the time to decide is nigh.

French industry to appeal ‘unjustified’ ban on GM maize

03-Apr-2012 - French maize growers and seed companies have appealed a ban on the cultivation of Monsanto’s genetically modified maize to the country's highest court, arguing that the ban is unjustified and economically harmful.

EPHA on food industry taxation: “The time for a free-for-all is finished”

02-Apr-2012 - Last week, Monika Kosinska, the secretary general of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), engaged industry in a debate about the worthiness and effectiveness of taxes on unhealthier foods to spur reformulation and healthier eating.

75% of breakfast cereals face kids TV ad ban in Ireland, says IBCA

02-Apr-2012 - The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is considering implementing rules that will see three quarters of breakfast cereals banned from advertising on children’s television programmes, according to the Irish Breakfast Cereal Association (IBCA).

Research casts doubt on benefit of nutritional labelling

02-Apr-2012 - Knowing more about the nutritional value of foods does not equate to increases in healthy eating and reductions in obesity, according to the findings of new research.

UK food safety authorities issue food grade chemical supply warning

30-Mar-2012 - UK food safety authorities have issued a warning to food processors over the use of food grade chemicals from a Northern Ireland-based distributor following the death of a woman in Italy.

EFSA gets shot down over budget approval

28-Mar-2012 - MEPs, debating the European Food Safety Authority’s finances and management board, have voted to delay the approval of the agency’s 2010 budget citing excessive costs of board meetings and questions over the Parma-based agency’s independence.

Dispatches from the 6th Nutrition & Lifestyle conference in Brussels

6-year EU obesity platform nears completion: But has it worked?

28-Mar-2012 - A 6-year project tackling obesity and other diet and physical activity-related health issues across the European Union has spawned 300 individual positive actions by government, commercial and other actors – and is not set to wind up until next year.

Dispatches from the 6th Nutrition & Lifestyle conference in Brussels

Tough? Not tough enough, says UK watchdog on EU health claim rules

27-Mar-2012 - Industry has become accustomed to feeling annoyed and hamstrung by the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation, but UK consumer watchdog Which? told a conference today that the rules should be even more closely enforced to help baffled consumers.